Process for preparing 1, 4-cis-butadiene high polymers



United States Patent 3,245,976 PRGCESS FOR PREPARING 1,4-CIS-BUTADIENE HIGH POLYMERS Walter Marconi, Alessandro Mazzei, Alessandro Beranger, and Mario Araldi, Milan, and Marcello de Mald, San Donato Milanese, Italy, assignors to SNAM- Societa per Azioni N0 Drawing. Filed July 9, 1962, Ser. No. 208,570 Claims priority, application Italy, July 17, 1961, Patent 665,332; Dec. 22, 1961, 23,084/61; Jan. 10, 1962, 419/62 4 Claims. (Cl. 260-943) This invention relates to a process for preparing 1,4-cisbutadiene high polymers and, more particularly, it relates to an improved catalyst system for carrying out the polymerization of butadiene so as to have high yields in 1,4-cis-butadiene.

'The catalyst systems herein disclosed comprise two or more components: one of those components is a compound, preferably a halide, of a transition metal. It has been a practice sometimes adopted to distinguish the components of catalyst-systems embodying compounds of transition metals by calling said compounds catalysts and the remaining compound or compounds co-catalysts although the catalytic effect of these systems depends on the interaction of all the components and it may be argued that the function of the various components can not be so distinguished, it has been found expedient for the sake of clarity to use this nomenclature in this specification and claims.

Thus the compound of transition metals will be called catalysts and the remaining compounds will be called the co-catalysts but it must be clear that this does not imply any theory on the manner in which the various components of a catalyst system interact.

The use of the so-called transition metals as catalyst for the polymerization processes of the described kind is generally known in the technique: for transition metals we generally intend the elements of the groups IVb, Vb, VIb and VIII of the Periodic Table, and manganese. As aforesaid, the present invention is for improvements in co-catalysts to be used in conjunction with the transition metals having the catalytic function proper.

Broadly stated, the present invention contemplates the use, with a compound of a transition metal as hereinbefore defined, of at least a primary co-catalyst having the general formula HAl wherein X and Y are members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen and wherein R and R are members selected from the group comprising alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl and cycloalkyl. R and In the actual practice of the invention it has been dis covered that, in order to obtain good yields of 1,4 cis polymer it is essential that the molar ratio of the primary co-catalyst referred to above, to that of the compound of the transition metal (catalyst) must exceed 1 (one).

The polymerization procedure, as itself, can be the conventional one, i.e. the polymerization steps can be effected in inert solvents, such as benzene and other aromatics like toluene, Xylene; it is preferable to use liquids which are solvents for all the components of the catalytic system, viz. the catalyst proper and the co-catalysts.

The reaction temperature ranges between 20 C. and +70 C,, and preferably between +50 C. and +25 C. The polymerization run takes a few hours to be completed.

The components of the catalytic system can be introduced in the reaction vessel individually or all at a time. The catalytic system can also be prepared separately, by admixing individual solution of the components of the catalytic system: by so doing, a solution, or a suspension is obtained according to the cases. This solution, or suspension, very presumably contains the actual catalyst, whose composition and structure, however, have not yet been fully elucidated hitherto. The preparation of these solutions can be effected at any temperatures between 0 C. and 60 C., in an inert atmosphere and at ordinary atmospheric pressures.

Once the polymerization run has been completed, the polymerized mass is withdrawn according to the conventional techniques.

When referring to the yield of solid polymer, it is intended, in this specification, to designate the weight ratio of the polymer which can be coagulated with methanol to the total monomer fed to the polymerization system. This ratio is ordinarily computed on a percent basis.

When the primary co-catalyst is an amino-alane or a halogen-alane, the molar ratio alane/transition metal compound (catalyst) should be greater than 1 and, preferably, should range between 2 and 8. The optimal value of this ratio is a function of the number of A1H bonds present in the catalyst system as a Whole.

This criterion is valid also when a secondary cocatalyst according to the invention is added to the catalyst system, i.e. when elemental iodine or a iodide is used, but, in such a case, also the molar ratio of the iodine (or the iodide) to the compound of the transition metal (e.g. titanium) should be considered, since it is a critical factor as to its influence on the polymerization run.

In practice, the ratio of iodine (or iodide) to the transition metal compound, expressed as a ratio of gramsatoms of iodine to gram-moles of titanium compound should range between 0.25 to l and 50:1: a preferred range is between 0.50 to l and 1511.

If a three-component system containing two different hydrides is used, only one of these hydrides containing iodine, the criterion is valid as well. The amount of catalyst to be used is between 0.25% and 5% by weight (in total) with respect to the weight of the starting monomer.

The concentration of the solutions of the monomer are about 10-20% by weight of monomer with respect to the solvent.

Among the primary co-catalysts which can be employed according to the invention there can be cited the halogen Patented Apr. 12, 1966 hydrides of aluminum as such, and their complexes with Lewis basis such as AlHCl (C H O;

a rotating thermostatic bath for the length of time desired.

At the end of that period, the bottle is taken out and its content is discharged into about one litre of methyl 5 alcohol containing 1% of an anti-oxidant. The precipand th lik itated polymer, having gummy appearance, is dried in a Such compounds have the advantage of being 110m invacuum furnace at room temperature. flammable and this isaparamount advantage. The conditions of polymerization and the results of Among the primary co-catalysts which contain an aluinfra-red analysis as described in the following Table 1,

Table 1 I. R. Analysis Molar Buta- Dum- No. test AlHClz.O(O H,-.) TiI4, m. Al/Ti Solvent, cm} diene, T., 0. tion, Yield,

rn. moles moles ratio gr. hours percent 1,4 eis, 1,4 1,2, Unsatpercent trans, percent uratod percent total 1.78 0.59 3 Benzene 100 24 +5 16 95.2 93.7 2 4.3 98 2.63 0.66 4 +5 7 37 88.1 7.7 4.1 95 2.16 0.432 18 +5 60 90 88.4 7.2 4.4 92 2.1 0. 29s 20 5 12 70 89.8 6.5 3.6 93 3.2 0. s2 19 +5 12 60 85 12 3 95 minum-nitrogen bond, there can be cited the amino-alanes EXAMPLE 6 Such as: Butadien'e is polymerized using the TiI Cl mixture ob- NA1 H NA1 H NA1H tla igd by joining equimolecular amounts of T11 and NAlI-II 1 (CH3)2NA1HBr (C2H5)2NA1HC1 (CH3) (C2H5) We used the following recipe:

OH Anhydrous benzene ml 100 AlHCl -O(C H millimoles 739 2 NA1H2 Tilzclz do 1.058 (CHQMN era-on, Butadiene --g-- 15 and the like. Al/ Ti molar ratio 7 The transition metal is preferably a halide but could be The catalyst is prepared directly in a bottle and this an organo-metallic compound. is allowed to age for 15 minutes at room temperature The invention will be illustrated, but not limited, by while stirring. The polymerization is conducted at +5 the ensuring detailed examples: of these, Examples 1 to C, f a d ti of 18 h Th yield f olid poly- 5 inclusive are particularly directed to complexed halogen mer is 63% d on LR. analysis th l tter shows the, aluminum hydrides. Examples 6 to 10 inclusive are ilfollowing structure: lustrative of the use of amino-alanes, whereas Examples 40 882% 7.1% 43% Total unsat- 11 to 37 inclusive are illustrative of three-component mated catalyst systems comprising iodine or an iodide as a sec- EXAMPLES ondary co-catalyst. The use of three-component systems is conducive to highly stereospecific polymerizations. tAfetg'lacetonato of of tnvalent cobalt 15 used as ca a ys EXAMPLES l 45 The catalyst is directly prepared in a drink-type bottle- 111 the eXamplS, that follow, butadiene is polymerized adding orderly: a solution with known concentration of with a catalyst system formed by AlI-ICl -O(C H and the cobalt acetyl acetonate, anhydrous benzene up to a T H at various Al/T i molar ratios. volume of 100 ml. and then AlHCl -O(C H diluted in. Into a two-necked flask of 150 ml. capacity with a benzene. On the addition of the hydride the intensive magnetic stirrer, previously heated by a flame and alcoloration of the cobalt compound disappears immediately lowed to cool down in a nitrogen stream, there is introand there is obtained a homogeneous or at least seeming duced the solvent and the weighed quantities of finely ly homogeneous solution, which slowly becomes increasground T11 The flask is then heated with an external ingly brown. bath around 40-50 C. and then the aluminum chloro- The bottle is allowed to age at room temperature for hydride etherate is added by means of a piston-pipette. about 20 minutes, then the monomer is added. The polym- The catalyst is allowed to cool down to room temperature erization takes place in homogeneous phase and can while stirring and is then transferred by siphoning into a be conducted to completion also without any stirring. On drink-type bottle previously dried under nitrogen. This termination, the dense solution is discharged into methabottle is closed by a neoprene seal and a corona-type nol containing a phenolic antioxidant and the polymer, bottle cap, which is punched so as to expose part of the 50 having a very high molecular weight, is dried under vacuneoprene seal. The butadiene is introduced by means of um. The results of the various tests are summarized ina hypodermic syringe and the bottle is put at once into the following table:

Table 2 LR. Analysis Molar Buta- Dura- No. Cobalt corn- AlHCl5.O(C2H )e, Al/Co Solvent, cm; diene, T., 0 tion, Yield, test pounds, m. :11. moles ratio gr. hours percent 1,4 cis, 1,4 trans, 1,2, Unsaturnoles percent percent percent rated total 7 COAg, 0.06 0.6 10 Benzene 100 14 +20 48 24 93.9 2.4 3.7 97 s 00. 0.031s 0. 538 16 +20 48 15 96.1 2 1.9 97 9 00.43, 00158.... 0. 53s 15 +25 48 25 95.2 1.8 3 94 10 C0A3,0.0158 1.39 11 +25 45 90.8 2.9 6.3 91

1 A acetyl-acetonie radical.

EXAMPLES 11-14 The aluminum dichloro-monohydride is replaced bythe corresponding brominated compound.

Hence the catalyst system is as follows:

The modalities of preparing the catalyst are analogous to those in the preceding tests; it is made directly in the reaction vessel and generally subjected to ageing at room temperature for 15 minutes.

In the following table are reported the conditions of polymerization and the results obtained.

6 EXAMPLE 17 We used as a catalyst system the mixture resulting from joining of TiI Cl with AlHBrN (CH The catalyst is prepared directly in a drink-type bottle previously dried under nitrogen, adding in order: 100 ml. of anhydrous benzene; 2.5 ml. of a benzenic suspension of TiI C1 (equivalent to 0.332 millimoles of TiI Cl and then 2 ml. of a benzenic solution of bromo-dimethylaminoalane 0.006 m.

The bottle is capped as already described and allowed to age for about minutes over a shaking machine at Table 3 LR. Analysis Molar Buta- Dura- Yield No. AIHBH.O(C2H5)2, T112012, Al/Ti Solvent, dicne, T., 0. tion, gn, Test in. moles m. moles ratio 0111. gr. hours percent 1,4 1,4 1,2, Unsatcis, trans, percent uratcd percent percent total 1. 78 1. 19 1. 5 Benzene 100 12 +5 98 92 4 4 95 2. 38 1. 38 1. 7 d0 13. 2 +5 16 90 90. 6 4. 8 4. 5 94 2. 38 1.19 2 d0 11. 6 +5 16 92 90.1 5. 5 4. 4 94 2. 97 0. 99 3 10. 5 +5 16 85 87. 4 8. 3 4. 2 94 EXAMPLE 15 room temperature. Then 13 g. butadiene are added by Butadiene is polymerized with a catalyst system formed by AlH N(CI-I and TH...

Into a flask of 150 ml. capacity, with two necks and with a magnetic stirrer, previously heated with a flame and allowed to cool down in a nitrogen stream, there are introduced the finely ground TiI (0.226 g.=0.405 millimoles) and 100 ml. of anhydrous benzene. After this charge there are added 1.215 millimoles of a benzenic solution of dimethyl-amino-alane by means of the use of a piston-pipette.

The catalyst is allowed to age at room temperature under stirring for minutes and is then transferred by siphoning into a drink-type bottle previously dried under nitrogen,

This is closed by a neoprene seal and a corona-type cap that is punched in such a way as to expose a part of the neoprene seal.

Then 10 g. of butadiene are introduced by means of a hypodermic syringe and at once the bottle is put into a rotating thermostatic bath at a temperature of +5 C. After 17 hours time the content of the bottle is discharged into about one litre of methyl alcohol containing 1% of antioxidant. The precipitated polymer, of gummy appearance, is dried in a vacuum oven at room temperature.

There are obtained 9 g. of polymer, with 90% yield which on infrared analysis shows the following structure: 92% 1,4-cis; 3.5% 1,4-trans; 4.5% 1-2. Unsaturated total 99%.

EXAMlLE 16 Butadiene is polymerized using the mixture of TiI C-l obtained by joining equimolecular amounts of TiL, and TiCl and dimethyl amino-alane. The modalities are analogous to those of the preceeding example. The quantities are as follows:

Anhydrous benzene ml 100 TlIgClg "millimoles" 0.332 AlH N(CH do 0.996 Butadiene g 15 Al/Ti molar ratio 3 The polymerization is conducted at +5 C. for 19 hours. .The yield of solid polymer is 90% and on LR. analysis this has the following structure:

91% 1,4-cis; 4.6% 1,4-tnans; 4.4% 1,2. Unsaturated total 97%.

means of a hypodermic syringe and at once the bottle is placed into a rotating thermostatic bath at the temperature of +5 C. After 18 hours time the content of the bottle is discharged into methyl alcohol containing a phenolic antioxidant and the polymer dried under vacuum. There are obtained 10.5 g. of gummy polymer, corresponding to an yield.

On LR. analysis it shows the following structure:

91.5% 1,4-cis; 4.5% 1,4-trans; 4% 1,2. Unsaturated total 96%.

EXAMPLE 18 We have prepared the chloro-diphenylamino-alane from the reaction:

AlHClN( C 11 +TiI We have carried out the procedure described in Example 1.

The recipe is as follows:

Benzene 'ml 100 TiL; millimoles 0.29 A1HClN(C H -NR do 1.74 Al/Ti molar ratio 6 Butadiene g 10 Polymerization temperature 0.. +5 Duration of test hours 20 Yield 5 g. of polymer percent 50 LR. analysis: 89.5% 1,4-cis; 5% 1,4-trans; 5.5% 1-2.

Unsaturated total 98%.

EXAMPLE 19 We prepared N-piperidine-alane by reacting benzenic solutions of pipe-ridine and of aluminum hydride complexed with tri-methyl amine according to the reaction:

The butadiene is polymerized with the catalyst system:

CHz-CHZ CH2 T114 CHr-CH:

The procedure followed is analogous to that of the preceding examples.

HeAlN Table 4 Moles Gr.

Al atome LR. analysis I2 Yield Test AlHClg.O 119 T1014, m. 12, m. Buta- T., Dur., gr., Unsat- No. In. moles moles mols Solvent, cm. diene, 0. hrs. perurated gr. cent 1,4 1,4 1,2, total Moles I Moles cis; trans, per- Ii Ti perpercent cent cent 20. 1 1. 82 0. 227 0.1137 8 1 Benzene 100... 10 +5 14 92 3 5 06 21 2 1.82 0. 227 0.1137 8 1 do 12 +5 19 45 92. 5 2.9 4.6 97 22- 2. 275 0. 227 0. 227 10 2 Toluene 100- 7 +5 17 30 91. 2 4. 3 4. 5 97 23"--. 3 2. 27 0. 227 0. 445 10 4 Benzene 100 10 +5 18 80' 90. 2 (l.-1- 3; 7 96 24. 2. 27 0. 227 0. 445 10 4 13 +5 18 85 90 5. 4 4. 6 95 2. 73 0. 227 0. 682 12 6 12 +5 14 73 90. 5 5. 2 4. 3 95 l [1,] in benzene at 32 C.=1.94 dl./g.

5 Catalyst aged at 60 C. for 30[1;] in benzene at 32 C.=3.7 dlJg.

We used the following recipe:

EXAMPLES 26-31 With the polymerization of butadiene, a catalyst sys- Anhydrous benzene ml 100 tem is employed which is formed of TH. 30 A1I +TiCl +AlHC1 -O(C H z f -Z at Various ratios between the components. The catalyst A1/T1 m1a1 Tatlo is prepared directly in a drink type bottle as previously Butadlene 9 described, adding orderly: anhydrous benzene, the ben- Temperature of polymerizatio zenic solution of TiCl the benzenic solution of A11 and Duration of test "hours" 17 35 then the benzenic solution of AlHCl -O(C H Solid polymer obtained 9 g. percent 100 The bottle is closed and the butadiene is introduced by means of a hypodermic syringe. The conditions of mall/S181 901% 51% L 47% polymerization and the results of LR. analysis are re- Un-saturated total 97% ported in the following Table No. 5.

Table 5 M i es gf LR. Analysis Test AlHCl .O(C2H5)2 TiChm. A113 111. I2 Buta- T., Dur., Yield, Unsatu- No. :11. moles mol. mol Solvent, cm. diene, C. hrs. percent 7 1,4 1,4 1,2 rated Moles Moles gr. cis trans pertotal T1 T1 perpercent cent cent 1. 30 0. 227 0.0455 0 0.6 Toluene 100.-. 11 +5 18 90 5.9 4.1 97 1.48 0. 227 0.057 6.5 0 d0 11 +5 18 70 92.2 3.4 4.4 1. 4s 0. 227 0. 227 0.5 3 do 10 +5 1s 83 94 1.8 2 1.59 0. 227 0. 303 7 4 Benzene 12 +5 17 05 95.1 0.8 4.1 98 1.59 0. 227 0. 303 7 4 d0 11 +5 17 90 95 1 4. 9s 1. e4 0. 273 0. 546 6 5 do 12 +5 10 63 94 1.9 4.1 95

1 Catalyst aged at +50 0. per 30 [1;] in benzene at +32 C.=4.05 dl./g.

EXAMPLES 20-25 EXAMPLE 32 In the following examples, butadiene is polymerized with a catalyst system formed of:

in various molar-ratios between thethree components. Into a drink-type bottle of 200' cubic cm. capacity, previously heated on a free flame and allowed to cool down in a nitrogen stream, anhydrous benzene is introduced as Well as the needed quantities of benzenic sloutions of TiCL, and of I Thereafter, the neded quantity of a benzenic solution with known concentration of chloroalane etherate is introduced under stirring. The bottle is sealed with a neoprene seal and a corona-type bottle cap which is punched so as to expose part of the neoprene seal. Then the bottle is kept for about 1.0 minutes over a shaking machine at room temperature to complete the reaction between the components of the catalyst.

Finally butadiene is added by means of a hypodermic syringe and immediately the bottle is put into a rotary thermostatic bath for the time needed. At the end of this period, the content of the bottle is discharged into In the following polymerization test, the chloro-alane etherate was replaced by the corresponding compound complexed with trimethyl amine. Hence the catalyst system is formed of AlI +TiCl +AlHCl -N(CH The modalities followed are analogous to those previously described. We report the quantities of the catalyst components, the conditions of polymerization and the results of LR. analysis.

9 LR. analysis: 94% 1,4-cis; 1.7% 1,4-trans; 4.3% 1,2.

Unsaturated total, 100%.

EXAMPLE 33 In this test, butadiene was polymerized employing dimethyl amino alane as a reducing agent. Then the catalyst system is formed by The catalyst was prepared in a bottle as previously described. The recipe is as follows:

Toluene ml 100 TiCL; millimnles 0.227 AlI do.. 0.227 AlH N(CH do 0.57 AlTi molar ratio 2.5

G. atome I 3 W Butadiene g 8 Polymerization temperature C Duration hours-.. 1 8 Yield "percent-.. 87

LR. analysis: 94% 1,4-cis; 1.4% 1,4-trans; 4.6% 1,2.

Unsaturated total, 100%.

[1;] in benzene at +36 C.=3.0 dL/g.

EXAMPLE 34 We have obtained the bromo-dimethylamino-alane by reaction of dimethyl amine on bromo-alane according to the scheme:

2+ a)s Then butadiene is polymerized with a catalyst system formed by: AlI +TiCl +AlHBrN(CH The quantities employed in these tests and the conditions of polymerization are as follows: the modalities are the same as in the preceding examples:

Benzene ml 100 TiCl millimoles 0.227 AlI do 0.227 AlHBrN(CI-I do 1.36 Al/Ti molar ratio 6 I/ Ti 3 Butadiene g 9 Polymerization temperature C +5 Duration hours Total yield percent 100 LR. analysis: 94.2% 1,4-cis; 1.8% 1,4-trans; 4% 1,2;

Unsaturated total, 97%

EXAMPLE By means of the following reaction: AIH CI-N(CH +HN(CH H AlHClN (C H 2 -NR |H we obtained chloro-diphenylamino-alane and this, jointly with TiCl and A11 polymerizes butadiene in a stereospecific manner.

The recipe employed is the following:

Benzene ml 100 TCL; millimoles" 0.227 A11 do 0.227 do Al/Ti molar ratio 6 I /TiCl 3 Butadiene g 1 1 Polymerization temperature C 1+5 Duration 11 ours..- 18 Yield percent 82 LR. analysis: 94.1% 1,4-cis; 1.5% 1,4-traus; 4.4% 1,2.

Unsaturated total, 99%.

10 EXAMPLE 36 As a reducing aluminum compound in this polymerization test, diphenyl-amino-alane was empoyed, as obtained by reacting AIH -N(CH and diphenyl amine. Hence the catalyst system is formed of The modalities used are analogous to those of the preceding examples.

We report the quantities employed.

Toluene ml TiCl millimoles 0.227 All do 0.31 A1H2N(C6I I5)2'NR3 dO Al/Ti molar ratio 3 I-/TiCl 4 Butadiene g 12 Duration hours at +5 C 18 Yield percent 76 LR. analysis: 93.6% 1,4-cis; 1.7% 1,4-trans; 4.7% 1,2.

Unsaturated total, 97

EXAMPLE 37 We obtained N-piperidino-alane by reaction of benzenic solutions of AlI-I -N(CH and piperidine. Hence butadiene was polymerized, with the modalities described, employing a catalyst system formed of:

LR. analysis: 94.5% 1,4-cis; 1.3% 1,4-trans; 4.2% 1,2.

Unsaturated total, 99%.

[ in benzene at +32 C.=4.2 dL/g.

EXAMPLE 38 We are reporting by Way of example a test of polymerization of butadiene on pilot plant scale, by means of the use of a catalyst system formed of Into a carbon-steel reactor of litres capacity equipped with a turbine electro-stirrer, with jacket-cooling, there are fed orderly: 60 kg. of anhydrous toluene; 5 kg. of butadiene; 46 ml. of AlHCl -O(C H (290 millimoles); 1.125 kg. of a toluenic solution containing 0.043 moles/kg. of AlI (for 48.4 millimoles total) and 1.070 kg. of a toluenic solution containing 0.045 moles/ kg. of TiCl (equivalent to 48.3 millimoles).

g. atome I- moles of TiCh Concentration of the catalyst: 1.5% by weight with respect to the monomer. The polymerization was started and conducted at 0 C. There were taken samples of solution from the reactor at regular time intervals and on these are determined the conversion, the viscosity and the structure.

All Ti molar ratio 6 3 We are reporting the results of the test:

LR. Analysis Mooney Conver- Unsat- Sample Time viscosity sion, urated ML 100-4 percent lA-trans, 1,2, 1,4-cis, total percent percent percent 1 30min 28.2 0.8 3.8 95.4 98 2 51.5 41.7 3 62. 57. 4 0. o 3. 9 95. 5 99 4 70.5 73.4 5 73. 5 so 0. 5 3. 7 95. 8 99 EXAMPLE 39 Butadiene g 9' In this test of polymerization of butadiene and in the g f "f; three successive tests, other metal iodides were tested P ion ours Yield percent of solid polymer-..

which are-other than A11 keeping unaltered the titanium compound and the reducer based onaluminum hydrides. In the present example the catalytic system is formed of: BiI +TiCl +AlHCl 'O(C H Into a flask of 100 ml. capacity there are introduced 50 ml. of toluene, 0.227 millimoles of TiCL; and 0.475 millimoles of BiI in the solid state, in such a manner that the ratio g. atome I/moles of TiCL; be 6.3.

The stirred suspension is kept at +50 C. for about 10 minutes and is then allowed to cool down in inert-atmosphere. Then 1.59 millimoles of chloro-alane etherate (Al/Ti molari ratio-=7) are added and the whole is siphoned into a drink-type bottle previously dried under nitrogen, employing further 50 ml. of toluene as a washing liquid. The bottle is sealed and there are introduced 9 g. of butadiene as already described. The polymerization is conducted in a rotating thermostatic bath at the temperature of +5 C. for 20 hours. Yield of solid polymer 40%. On LR. analysis, it shows the following structure:

94.7% 1,4-cis; 1.3% 1,4-trans; 4% 1,2. Unsaturated total, 96%.

[1 in benzene at +32 C.=7.15 dL/g.

EXAMPLE 40 We carriedout this polymerization according to what is described in Example 39. The catalyst system employed is formed of: LiI+TiCl +AlHCl -O(C H LR. analysis: 93.2% 1,4-cis; 2.4% 1,4-trans; 4.4% 1,2.

Unsaturated total, 97%.

[7;] in benzene at ,+32 C.=2.52 dL/g.

EXAMPLE 41 The catalyst system employed is: MgI +TiCl +AlHCl -O(C H The modalities are analogous to those described in Example 39. The recipe is as follows:

Toluene ml- 100 TiCl millimoles 0.357

M r do 0.89

AlHCl -O(C H do 2.32

Al/Ti molar ratio 6.5

TiCl

LR. analysis: (Approximative) 1,4-cis; 8% 1,4-

trans; 7% 1,2.

EXAMPLE 42 With the modalities followed in Example 39 and using the catalysts system formed of:

CoI +TiCl +AlHCl O(C H We polymerized butadiene with the following recipe:

' Toluene 100. ml.

TiCL; 0.26 millimoles.

C01 0.52 millimoles. AlHCl -O(C H 1.56 millimoles.

Al/Ti ratio 6.

G. atome I 4 TiCl Butadiene 11 g.

Temperature +5 C. for 17 hours duration. Yield 30%..

LR. analysis: 91% 1,4-cis; 4.7% 1,4-trans; 423% 1,2.

Unsaturated total, 95%.

EXAMPLE. 43

In this test butadiene ispolymerized using' a catalyst obtained from TiCl and AlH I -O(C H In this case,

as in the subsequent ones, since iodine is present in the reducing aluminum compound, the addition of another iodine component such as I -A1I etc. becomes superfluous. I The modalities are analogous to those described in Example 39. The recipe isas-follows:

Toluene ml.

TiCl 0.277 millimoles.

millimoles.

Al/Ti molar ratio 5.

Butadiene 12 g.

Temperature +5 C. for the duration of 18 hours.

Yield 95%.

LR. analysis: 92% 1,4-cis; 3.6% 1,4-trans; 4.4% 1,2.

Unsaturated total, 97%. [1;] in benzene at +32" C.=4.18 dl./g.

EXAMPLE 44 Butadiene is polymerized with a catalyst system formed of TiCl and a mixture of chlorine and iodine-alanesetherates. The modalities are analogous to those described in Example 20.

We report the quantities employed:

13 The polymerization is carried out at the temperature of C. for the duration of 19 hours. There are obtained 9 g. of polymer with a yield of 90%.

LR. analysis: 9 /a% 1,4-cis; 4.7% 1,4-trans; 4% 1,2. Unsaturated total, 99%.

EXAMPLE 45 The catalyst system is the same as in the preceding example, with a different ratio between iodine and chloroalane. The quantities are the following:

Toluene ml 100 TiCl millimoles 0.227 A1HC120(C2H5)2 dO AlHI -O(C H do 0.2275 Al/ Ti molar ratio 5 Al H1 Butadiene g.

Polymerization is carried out for 16 hours at the temperature of +5 C. There are obtained 4 g. of polybutadiene (40%) which shows the following structure on IR. analysis:

Unsaturated total, 98%.

We claim:

1. A process for polymerizing butadiene to 1,4-cis high polymers comprising contacting butadiene with a multi-component catalyst system including:

A. a compound selected from the group consisting of titanium tetraiodide, acetylacetonate of divalent coba-lt and acetyl-acetonate of trivalent cobalt; and

B. a compound selected from the group consisting of a compound having the general formula wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halogens and Y is selected from the group consisting of halogens and wherein R and R are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, aralkyl and cycloalkyl 14 and the ether, tertiary amine and tetrahydrofuran complexes thereof, the process being elfected in an inert solvent which is a solvent for bot-h the first-named and the secondnamed catalytic compounds.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of the compound of the formula to that of the compound of the transition metal is greater than 1.

3. A process for polymerizing butadiene to 1,4-cis high polymers comprising contacting butadiene with a multicomponent catalyst system including:

A. a compound selected from the group consisting of dichloro dipropoxy titanate and titanium tetrachloride;

B. a compound selected from the group consisting of a compound having the general formula wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, and Y is selected from the group consisting of halogens and wherein R and R are selected from the group consisting ofalkyl, aryl, aralkyl and cycloalkyl and the ether, tertiary amine and tetnahydrofiuran complexes thereof; and C. a compound selected from the group consisting of iodine, aluminum triiodide, bismuth tn'iodide, lithium iodide, magnesium iodide and cobalt iodide, the process being effected in an inert solvent which is a solvent for both the first-named and the second-named catalytic compounds.

4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the ratio of gram-atoms of iodine to gram-mols of transition metal compound is comprised between 0.25:1 and 50:1.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,977,349 3/1961 Brockway et al. 260-94.3 3,056,771 8/ 1962 Aldridge et al 26094.3 3,095,406 6/ 1963 Short et al. 26094.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,212,108 10/1959 France. 1,256,231 2/1961 France. 1,259,291 3/1961 France. 1,104,188 4/1961 Germany. 1,113,311 8/1961 Germany.

799,823 8/ 1958 Great Britain. 849,589 9/ 1960 Great Britain. 877,661 9/ 1961 Great Britain. 920,244 3/1963 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Ruff: Jour., Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 83, July 5, 1961, pages 2835-2839, QDl A5.

JOSEPH L. SCHOFER, Primary Examiner.

E. J. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROCESS FOR POLYMERIZING BUTADIENE TO 1,4-CIS HIGH POLYMERS COMPRISING CONTACTING BUTADIENE WITH A MULTI-COMPONENT CATALYST SYSTEM INCLUDING: A. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TITANIUM TETRAIODIDE, ACETYLACETONATE OF DIVALENT COBALT AND ACETYL-ACETONATE OF TRIVALENT COBALT; AND B. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A COMPOUND HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA
 3. A PROCESS FOR POLYMERIZING BUTADIENE TO 1,4-CIS HIGH POLYMERS COMPRISING CONTACTING BUTADIENE WITH A MULTICOMPONENT CATALYST SYSTEM INCLUDING: A. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF DICHLORO DIPROPOXY TITANATE AND TITANIUM TETRACHLORIDE; B. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A COMPOUND HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA 